Thursday, April 09, 2009

Little ones may add to roar in Sariska

JAIPUR: The Sariska tiger reserve might see another new member soon. And this time the newcomer will not be a relocated big cat from the Ranthambore National Park but one that is Sariska’s very own.

The first tigress that was relocated to the Sariska from Ranthambore last year is in advanced stages of pregnancy and is expected to deliver her litters soon. Forest officers hinted taht this was so.

“I cannot comment on whether the tigress is pregnant. It is only after the litters are born that we will be in a position to say anything,” said chief wildlife warden, Rajasthan RN Mehrotra.

The officers also choose not to disclose the location of the tigress but said, “Our observations is that the tigress is preferring to roam about just within a radius of a km. It has not ventured out for some time.”

While that may be so, the tiger at Sariska has found yet another mate in the second tigress that was relocated a month ago. Forest officers have seen the two big cats together and have also photographed them.

“The two big cats were seen together and they have mated,” Mehrotra said.

The Sariska tiger reserve that was devoid of tigers saw the first-of-its -kind tiger relocation last year. A male and two female tigers, all in their prime, were relocated from Ranthambore.

Though the brakes came after two big cats were relocated with the National Tiger Conservation Authority putting curbs on the relocation of tigers from the core area of Ranthambore. But the differences were resolved just in time to ensure that the relocated big cats did not miss out on the mating season.

The relocation is part of a process to help Sariska get back its tiger populace.